Preview: Under 13s and 14s Nationals – Meet the Country/Metro Boys

Receiving a sound footballing education thanks to FFA?s National Curriculum, we can expect that all both Metro and Country squads are well aware of how to defend as a unit, counter attack in numbers and most importantly, be deadly in front of goal.
Under 13s Country Squad
Coached by the highly regarded Tim Wilson, the boys from Country NSW have been placed in a tough group alongside Northern NSW Country, northern Territory, Queensland Country, Victoria Country and Tasmania.
Despite their difficult group, the squad has high expectations to perform well come the start of the tournament. With the likes of the midfield maestro, Hugo Forlico and defensive enforcer Nathan Doungmanee in the squad, expect big thing to come from the youngsters.
Full Squad: Lachlan DOOHAN, Connor CAPONECCHIA, Nathan DOUNGMANEE, Hugo FORLICO, Kurtley GOLDEN, Thomas HAZELTON, Morgan KELLY, Hamish LAMBERTON, Gez McGARRY, George PAVESE, Nicholas RAILZ, Jacob SMEDE, Jake TREW, Malcom WARD, Christopher YING SING, Quinn McDONOUGH.
Under 14s Country Squad
A mixture between a well drilled squad prepared for anything and a lot of positive energy from the sideline as meant that Ben Wright?s squad have asserted themselves as the team to beat in Group A of the competition.
Facing stiff competition in the form of South Australia, Queensland Metro, Victoria Metro, Football West, Queensland Country and their NSW Metro counterparts, there is a lot of expectation on the shoulders of the boys this competition.
Full Squad: Gerard ROEBUCK, Thomas BAKER, Zachary FATTORE, Tim HALL, Samuel HEAD, Andrew JONES, Angus KELLY, Cameron KOPP, William MANWARING, Sam McILLHATTON, Brenden MOZAK, Kobe RAPLEY, Samuel SMITH, Harry SUTHERLAND, Dean WATLING, Trent STREETER.
Under 13s Metro Squad
Under the guidance of former Socceroo Milan Balgojevic, the 13s Metro squad is made up of almost entirely footballers from the Skilleroos with just the one player, Marley Peterson coming from Manly United.
It is this cohesion and squad togetherness, which should be the difference between just kicking a ball around at the Nationals and potentially winning the tournament. Placed in Group A alongside Capital Football, Football West, Northern NSW Metro, Queensland Metro, South Australia and Victoria Metro.
Full Squad: Evan DAVIS, Daniel ARZANI, Jordon BENNETT, Henry DAVIS, Joshua EVANS, Ben FOLAMI, Lewis FRASER, Anthony GALLO, Jamie GORGOVSKI, Marley PETERSON, Gianni STENSNESS, Solomon VAIIKA, Harry VAN DER SAAG, Nicholas ZERVAS, Xane ZAINEDDINE, Julian Di CIANO.

Under 14s Metro Squad
Having been coaching football sides longer than the squad have been alive, Oscar Gonzalez brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding into the 14s Metro squad. It is the team?s ability to turn defence into attack in a blink of an eye, which will ultimately be the undoing of their opposition.
Kicking off the tournament with a game against Queensland Country on Monday should set the tone for the rest of the competition as the Metro boys are welcomed into Group A with one of their biggest hurdles set to come in the form of the NSW Country squad.
Full Squad: Mitchell EVANS, Charles ABOU SERHAL, Jackson BANDIERA, Ricardo BERNARDINO, Joshua BRISKOSKI, Joe CALETTI, Hassan DAGHER, Caio DE GODOY, Perry FOTAKOPOULOS, Daniel MASKIN, Liam McGING, Gian MENDEZ, Kosta PETRATOS, Jordan PYNE, Zac SPETH, Jake SOUTTER
-By Pete Nowakowski